My Autos

Tips on How to Save Gas
Fuel economy-maximizing behaviors or more popularly known as gas saving tips have been at the forefront of most drivers’ concerns thanks to the looming oil crisis. Basically, it is defined as a set of methods that drivers can utilize, in order to optimize their automobile’s fuel economy. There are many ways that energy is spent needlessly through driving. These include inefficient engine use, aerodynamic drag, friction, excessive braking, and many more. However, there are two general categories on how to save gas, which can be either basic or advanced. The former can be done by most drivers with little or no professional help, while the latter ought to be done by an experienced hypermiler. Basic Techniques The first thing that every driver should do in order to improve gas mileage is to inflate the tires to the maximum. This way, a smaller amount of energy is needed to move the automobile. In line with this, there should be minimum cargo as much as possible to remove the burden off the engine. Additionally, maintaining optimum speed should help significantly, which is usually measured in the 35 to 55 mph range. Aside from that, the driver should also pay attention to braking and acceleration. That means braking and acceleration should not be sudden and they should be minimized as much as possible. Another way to save gas is through coasting. That means the engine is still running, although the transmission is set to neutral. Bear in mind that fuel is still consumed when coasting, although far less than the driver would in normal driving conditions. These basic techniques are recommended for the average user and these are also far simpler to execute as opposed to the advanced techniques that are discussed below. Advanced Pulse and glide is one of the most commonly used fuel saving tips by the advanced hypermiler. This method consists of driving to a certain speed limit called pulsing, which is then followed by a period of gliding. These two steps are repeated in order to maximize fuel economy. However, it is advised that the gliding stage should be done when the engine is not activated. Another sophisticated fuel saving tip is called drafting, which is otherwise known as slipstreaming. This technique involves two or more vehicles that are aligned in a close group, in order to decrease the overall effect of drag. This happens because the lead vehicle’s slipstream is utilized by the ones that follow it. Drafting is an effective way to increase gas mileage both for the lead and tail automobiles. Most hypermilers use this method when trailing larger vehicles and has was shown to increase Miles Per Gallon(MPG) efficiency by at least 11 percent. Overall, it is imperative for each driver to learn different ways on saving gas without having to spend on another part or accessory to accomplish it. However, enough caution ought to be considered whenever these techniques are used to prevent accidents or costly engine damage.
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Crude Oil: Black Gold or Black Menace?
With all the publicity nowadays surrounding the price of Crude Oil, I resolved to write an enlightening article on the backdrop of the so-called “Black Gold.” I’ll briefly go over history, environmental effects, pricing and the future of the thick black sludge that is coveted by every major economy in the world. Hopefully you can reach a better point of view on the subject.  The history of Crude Oil is too immense to discuss in this brief editorial so I will limit it to a general overview. The first oil wells were drilled in China in the 4th century. They where as much as 243 meters deep and were drilled utilizing drill bits attached to bamboo poles. The contemporary history of crude began in 1846, with the breakthrough of the process of refining kerosene from coal by Atlantic Canada’s Abraham Pineo Gesner. The first rock oil mine was built in Bobrka, Poland the following year. These breakthroughs rapidly spread around the world, and Meerzoeff built the first Russian refinery in the mature oil fields at Baku in 1861.  James Miller Williams in Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada in 1858, excavated the first commercial oil well drilled in North America. The American petroleum industry commenced with Edwin Drake’s discovery of oil in 1859, near Titusville, Pennsylvania. The industry matured slowly in the 1800s, driven by the demand for kerosene and oil lamps. It became a major national business in the early part of the 20th century. With the introduction of the internal combustion engine came a need that has largely sustained the industry to this day.  While we all need to get to work in some way or another, rarely does anyone consider the environmental effects of the fuel that powers our mode of transportation. Yes we know that the emissions from are cars, buses and trains have a green house effect on our delicate environment; but what about the rest of our ecology? Oil extraction is costly and occasionally environmentally detrimental, although Dr. John Hunt from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution revealed in a 1981 paper that over 70% of the reserves in the world are associated with visible macroseepages, and numerous oil fields are found due to natural leaks. Offshore exploration and extraction of oil agitates the encompassing marine environment. Exploration could call for dredging, which stirs up the sea bottom, stamping out the ocean plants that nautical creatures need to survive. Not to mention the typical Crude Oil and refined fuel spills from tanker ship accidents. All of these factors have tainted frail ecosystems all over the world. Petroleum products are priced like most commodities: supply and demand. While this may sound simple, the actual start to finish process can be a lot more complex subject. References to oil prices are generally related to the spot price of either WTI/Light Crude as traded on New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). Priced by the barrel, Crude Oil is rapidly becoming the most costly commodity on the market (second only to Gold). Oil pricing is extremely reliant on both its grade and location. The vast majority of oil will not be traded on an exchange but on an over-the-counter basis, typically with reference to a standard crude oil grade that is quoted via a pricing agency such as Argus Media Ltd or Platts. It is often claimed that OPEC arranges the oil price and the real monetary value of a barrel of oil is in the area of $2, which is equivalent to the cost of extraction of a barrel in the Middle East. These appraisals of costs disregard the cost of finding and developing oil reserves.  You can’t talk about the future of oil without talking about the “Hubbert Peak” oil theory. This hypothesis depicts the long-term rate of production of conventional oil and other fuels. It assumes that oil reserves are not replenishable. It also predicts that future world oil production must unavoidably reach a crest and then decline as these reserves are exhausted. Like every other theory of any importance it is highly controversial. “When will the Oil actually start to run out?” is the big question. No matter how you look at it, our society needs to concentrate more efforts on either alternative fuels or more fuel-efficient modes of transportation. While I’m sure that the oil won’t peter out in my life time I would like to think we can leave this world a better place for future generations. In closing, I hope this article has given you a better understanding of the topic and made you a more informed consumer. So the next time your grumbling at the price of gas, at least you’ll understand what you re complaining about. If you would like to read more on the topic of Crude Oil, you can vistit http://www.crudeoilrefineryhome.com/ or read one of the books listed at the end of this article.  Books about the petroleum industry: James Howard Kunstler (2005). The Long Emergency: Surviving the Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-first Century. Atlantic Monthly Press.  C.J. Campbell (2004). The Coming Oil Crisis.  Peter Odell (2004). Why Carbon Fuels Will Dominate the 21st Century’s Global Energy Economy. Multi Science.  Amory B. Lovins (2004). Winning the Oil Endgame. Rocky Mountain Institute.  Vaclav Smil (2003). Energy at the Crossroads : Global Perspectives and Uncertainties. The MIT Press.Stephen Nelson is a professional commodity trader that specializes in the energy market. http://www.crudeoilrefineryhome.com/
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